First Look: Asus MeMo Pad 8 tablet is a noteworthy budget buy

First Look: Asus MeMo Pad 8 tablet is a noteworthy budget buy

2:29 /
June 20, 2014

The 8-inch slate starts at $199 and packs a slick new user interface in slim design.

[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
If you're in the market for a mid sized budget tablet, you're in luck. If you're in the market for a mid sized budget tablet, you're in luck.
Not only are there plenty to choose from, but Asus just came out with one of the most compelling options yet. Not only are there plenty to choose from, but Asus just came out with one of the most compelling options yet.
I'm Xiomara Blanco for CNet, and this is a first look at the Asus Memo Pad 8. I'm Xiomara Blanco for CNet, and this is a first look at the Asus Memo Pad 8.
The eight inch tablet features a stylishly thin design, it's one of the thinnest and lightest budget tablets available. The eight inch tablet features a stylishly thin design, it's one of the thinnest and lightest budget tablets available.
On the back, it rocks a thinly weaved texture that's both comfortable and smooth. On the back, it rocks a thinly weaved texture that's both comfortable and smooth.
The Memo Pad 8 is the right size to fit in one hand, but when holding it in landscape orientation, it's also comfy. The Memo Pad 8 is the right size to fit in one hand, but when holding it in landscape orientation, it's also comfy.
The tablet rocks Asus's new zen user interface, which features a trendy flat design, and a ton of software goodies, like Asus' suite of apps. The tablet rocks Asus's new zen user interface, which features a trendy flat design, and a ton of software goodies, like Asus' suite of apps.
Which includes the Splendid Screen Calibration software, and Audio Wizard, which is an essential tool for optimizing audio quality. Which includes the Splendid Screen Calibration software, and Audio Wizard, which is an essential tool for optimizing audio quality.
The tablet houses a quad core Intel Bay Trail processor, one gigabyte of RAM, and 16 gigabytes of storage that's expandable up to 64 gigabytes. The tablet houses a quad core Intel Bay Trail processor, one gigabyte of RAM, and 16 gigabytes of storage that's expandable up to 64 gigabytes.
If that's not enough, Asus offers two years of free cloud storage through it's web storage service. If that's not enough, Asus offers two years of free cloud storage through it's web storage service.
The Memo Pad 8 has a vibrant screen, that's brighter than other budget eight-inchers. The Memo Pad 8 has a vibrant screen, that's brighter than other budget eight-inchers.
But it's still not very bright. But it's still not very bright.
It looks great indoors but gets difficult to see in direct sunlight. It looks great indoors but gets difficult to see in direct sunlight.
The 1,280 x 800 pixel resolution is comparable to other budget mid size tablets. The 1,280 x 800 pixel resolution is comparable to other budget mid size tablets.
But the colors on the Memo's IPS screen look more saturated and rich with better contrast. But the colors on the Memo's IPS screen look more saturated and rich with better contrast.
However, there's no ambient light sensor, so you have to manually adjust the brightness setting often. However, there's no ambient light sensor, so you have to manually adjust the brightness setting often.
Performance is usually smooth but not very fast. Performance is usually smooth but not very fast.
The tablet's performance lags when dealing with large apps, and slows down significantly if downloading big files or apps. The tablet's performance lags when dealing with large apps, and slows down significantly if downloading big files or apps.
Touchscreen response also lags when many apps are open at once. Touchscreen response also lags when many apps are open at once.
The tablet has an edge over the competition, thanks to its robust camera features. The tablet has an edge over the competition, thanks to its robust camera features.
The photo quality if the five megapixel rear camera isn't great, but it's a lot better than most tablets. The photo quality if the five megapixel rear camera isn't great, but it's a lot better than most tablets.
The different camera settings, including the gif animation one, makes using the camera fun and easy. The different camera settings, including the gif animation one, makes using the camera fun and easy.
The two megapixel front facing camera is zoomed in close to your face. The two megapixel front facing camera is zoomed in close to your face.
So selfies require the standard stretched out selfie arm for a good photo. So selfies require the standard stretched out selfie arm for a good photo.
For a more in depth look at the Asus Memo 8's camera features, and everything else it has to offer, check out my full review on CNet. For a more in depth look at the Asus Memo 8's camera features, and everything else it has to offer, check out my full review on CNet.
Once again, I'm Xiomara Blanco. Once again, I'm Xiomara Blanco.
And this has been a first look at the Asus Memo Pad 8. And this has been a first look at the Asus Memo Pad 8.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]
If you're in the market for a mid sized budget tablet, you're in luck. If you're in the market for a mid sized budget tablet, you're in luck.
Not only are there plenty to choose from, but Asus just came out with one of the most compelling options yet. Not only are there plenty to choose from, but Asus just came out with one of the most compelling options yet.
I'm Xiomara Blanco for CNet, and this is a first look at the Asus Memo Pad 8. I'm Xiomara Blanco for CNet, and this is a first look at the Asus Memo Pad 8.
The eight inch tablet features a stylishly thin design, it's one of the thinnest and lightest budget tablets available. The eight inch tablet features a stylishly thin design, it's one of the thinnest and lightest budget tablets available.
On the back, it rocks a thinly weaved texture that's both comfortable and smooth. On the back, it rocks a thinly weaved texture that's both comfortable and smooth.
The Memo Pad 8 is the right size to fit in one hand, but when holding it in landscape orientation, it's also comfy. The Memo Pad 8 is the right size to fit in one hand, but when holding it in landscape orientation, it's also comfy.
The tablet rocks Asus's new zen user interface, which features a trendy flat design, and a ton of software goodies, like Asus' suite of apps. The tablet rocks Asus's new zen user interface, which features a trendy flat design, and a ton of software goodies, like Asus' suite of apps.
Which includes the Splendid Screen Calibration software, and Audio Wizard, which is an essential tool for optimizing audio quality. Which includes the Splendid Screen Calibration software, and Audio Wizard, which is an essential tool for optimizing audio quality.
The tablet houses a quad core Intel Bay Trail processor, one gigabyte of RAM, and 16 gigabytes of storage that's expandable up to 64 gigabytes. The tablet houses a quad core Intel Bay Trail processor, one gigabyte of RAM, and 16 gigabytes of storage that's expandable up to 64 gigabytes.
If that's not enough, Asus offers two years of free cloud storage through it's web storage service. If that's not enough, Asus offers two years of free cloud storage through it's web storage service.
The Memo Pad 8 has a vibrant screen, that's brighter than other budget eight-inchers. The Memo Pad 8 has a vibrant screen, that's brighter than other budget eight-inchers.
But it's still not very bright. But it's still not very bright.
It looks great indoors but gets difficult to see in direct sunlight. It looks great indoors but gets difficult to see in direct sunlight.
The 1,280 x 800 pixel resolution is comparable to other budget mid size tablets. The 1,280 x 800 pixel resolution is comparable to other budget mid size tablets.
But the colors on the Memo's IPS screen look more saturated and rich with better contrast. But the colors on the Memo's IPS screen look more saturated and rich with better contrast.
However, there's no ambient light sensor, so you have to manually adjust the brightness setting often. However, there's no ambient light sensor, so you have to manually adjust the brightness setting often.
Performance is usually smooth but not very fast. Performance is usually smooth but not very fast.
The tablet's performance lags when dealing with large apps, and slows down significantly if downloading big files or apps. The tablet's performance lags when dealing with large apps, and slows down significantly if downloading big files or apps.
Touchscreen response also lags when many apps are open at once. Touchscreen response also lags when many apps are open at once.
The tablet has an edge over the competition, thanks to its robust camera features. The tablet has an edge over the competition, thanks to its robust camera features.
The photo quality if the five megapixel rear camera isn't great, but it's a lot better than most tablets. The photo quality if the five megapixel rear camera isn't great, but it's a lot better than most tablets.
The different camera settings, including the gif animation one, makes using the camera fun and easy. The different camera settings, including the gif animation one, makes using the camera fun and easy.
The two megapixel front facing camera is zoomed in close to your face. The two megapixel front facing camera is zoomed in close to your face.
So selfies require the standard stretched out selfie arm for a good photo. So selfies require the standard stretched out selfie arm for a good photo.
For a more in depth look at the Asus Memo 8's camera features, and everything else it has to offer, check out my full review on CNet. For a more in depth look at the Asus Memo 8's camera features, and everything else it has to offer, check out my full review on CNet.
Once again, I'm Xiomara Blanco. Once again, I'm Xiomara Blanco.
And this has been a first look at the Asus Memo Pad 8. And this has been a first look at the Asus Memo Pad 8.
[MUSIC] [MUSIC]